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In 2002, I was selected by the
Mars Society to spend two weeks at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), a Mars-base analog
simulation facility located in the most Mars-like area of the Utah desert. In addition to
doing my own research on human integration issues, I also
served as Executive
Officer, Health/Safety Officer and Station Engineer.
Here are some pictures of that amazing experience. Links to more information can be
found at the bottom of this page. Don't forget to check out my
2003 mission to the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station near
the North Pole, and my return to MDRS as commander of
Crew 37 in 2005.
The Mars Desert Research Station in southwestern Utah
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| MDRS as seen from a nearby hill,
with the main habitat
("Hab"), greenhouse (right) and the red-green-blue flag of the Mars Society
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MDRS from ground level, with the main airlock in front and
the Starband satellite communications antenna on top |
MDRS Crew 5 waves goodbye to the world before entering the
hab for two weeks of closed simulation |
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| Programming my handheld GPS satellite navigation receiver
in preparation of an EVA (Extravehicular Activity) |
"Suiting up" took thirty minutes every time we
went outside |
The area offered great panoramic views and very interesting
geological formations, like those behind me at a waypoint named "Andrea's Quarry" |
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| During EVA, we often had to cross difficult passages on our
ATVs, such as this one at the "Ravine Y" waypoint |
Even though the desert looked appropriately barren, some
traces of life could be
discovered by those looking
hard enough ;-) |
Andrea Fori, our geologist, taking rock samples close to a
main ATV trail dubbed "Lowell Highway" |
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| Our main transportation: All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), here
mine at waypoint "Clara's Corner" in the center of "Mid Ridge Planitia",
about 2 km from MDRS |
ATVs let us cover a lot of ground while still allowing us
to stay in direct contact with the environment, an important issue for explorers |
Dr. Nancy Wood, myself and David Real (from left) returning
from our first EVA |
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| The upper level of the Hab with individual workstations
(back) and the group meeting/eating table (front) |
Lunches and dinners were always welcome occasions for
enjoying the company of the other crewmembers |
The Hab's breadmaker provided us with a constant stream of
delicious loaves |
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| Our last full day at the Hab was "Media Day",
with four TV teams and about ten print reporters/photographers from the US and Europe
attending |
Dr. Vladimir Pletser and I pose for a "Mars
Exploration" photo opportunity during Media Day |
We had to weather several sandstorms, which shook the hab
and reduced visibility |
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| The crew of course participated in the international "Yuri's Night" celebrations on
April 12, honoring Yuri Gagarin's first manned spaceflight over 40 years ago |
Scenic view from the Hab's main window on the upper floor |
The MDRS Crew 5 mission patch, designed for us by graphic
artist Joe Boyer, shows the Hab, the Mars Society logo and our names in front of Planet
Mars |
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More information:
This
paper that was
presented at a 2003 spaceflight conference
Summary report in German (PDF,
330K)
Select Crew 5
Daily Reports
(PDF, 580K)
MDRS Website
(on Mars Society web server)
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